Annular finish strip and method of constructing the same



April 19, 1932. H. G. KELLOGG 1,855,022

ANNULAR FINISH STRIP AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME Filed Aug. 10,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTfI wmmwmd Madam;

ATTORNE April 19, 1932.

H. G. KELLOGG .ANNULAR FINISH STRIP AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAMEFiled Aug. 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0mm 1mm Tam;

ATTO RN EY Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE 30m G. KELIIbOGG, OFDETBOIT, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNOB IOIOZIL'OB IBODUULB COB- POB-ATION, O1 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 01YORK m rnnsn STRIP AND IETHOD O1 OONS'JEBUCTDTG m sum Application fled-August 10; 1931. Serial No. mass This invention relates to an annularfinish or trim strip 'or rail and to the method of fitting the same to asupport such as vehicle wheel rims, hubs and the like.

The present vogue in. motor vehicles demands the application to thewheel rims, hubs and the like, of a finish or trim strip or rail usuallyof a contrasting color for the purpose of im artin anornamentalappearance thereto an to en ance generally the appearance ofthe wheel, hub or the like. As a general rule it has been customary tomake this finish strip in the form of a complete annulus and tothereafter secure the same to the rim, hub or the like, either by meansof anchorage means attached to the shpporting surface or by means ofbeads, grooves or the like formed therein.

However, it has been found that in production the diameter of vehiclewheel rims, for instance, v somewhat and likewise in production theished diameter of annular finish members of this t e will also vary indiameter so that muc difliculty is experi enced in assembling the finishstrip with the rim or' other supporting surface and in many instanceswhere the discrepancies in size are too great it is impossible to attachthe finish strip.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this,

invention to rovide a finish or trim strip or rail of this 0 aracterwhich may be quickly and easily fitted to its supporting surface such asa wheel rim, hub or other surface of fixed dimensions.

To this end the invention contemplates forming the finish strip in theform of a split ring member of slightly greater length than the requiredfinished size, whereupon the finish strip may be placed against thewheel rim or other supporting surface and the correct length or diameteraccurately gauged, whereupon the split ring member may be severed tolength.

The invention also contemplates a coupling member readily engageablewith the ends of the split ring member whereby the ends may be connectedto form a complete annulus which thereafter may be secured to thesupporting surface such as the wheel rim in the customary manner.

The several objects, advantages and novel details of construction of theinvention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, escially when considered in connection wit the accompanying drawingswherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle wheel rim or the like,having attached thereto a finished strip or'trim rail constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view takep substantially on the line2-2 in Fig- Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of theconnected ends to the split ring member;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line indicatedas 44 in Fig ure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional perspective view throu h avehicle rim showing the manner in whlch the finish strip is ggugled toobtain the correct diameter of the 'is ed annulus;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ends of the split ring membershowing the coupling element ready to be attached to the ends of thesplit ring;

Figure 7 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 6 showing the couplingmember associated with one end of the split ring and just pridor to thejoining of the two split ring ends, an

Figure 8 isa fragmentary cross sectional perspective view through awheel rim showing the end of a split ring finish strip of slightlydifferent form. a

y reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that thereis illustrated a vehicle wheel rim 10 of the drop-center type to whichit is the present custom to attach in any one of a various number ofways a finish strip or trim rail 11. In the present illustrationthe'trim strip 11 is shown as secured to the rim by engaging the innerperiphery thereof with the wall portion 10'of the rim and engagingthe-outer pefirifihery with beads 12 formed. -circumferen y of the run.

However, the finish strip 11 may be secured to its supporting surface inany other pre ferred or desired manner, insofar as this invention isconcerned, as will become more apparent as this description proceeds.

In accordance with this invention, I propose forming the finish strip ortrim rail in the form of a split ring which will be furnished to thewheel rim manufacturer or automobile manufacturer in diameters orlengths slightly in excess of the desired fin-. ished diameter of thecomplete annular finish strip. Thereafter, as illustrated in Figure 5,the finish strip may be matched with the wheel rim by placing the samein position and permitting the ends A and B thereof to overlap. In thismanner the proper diameter for the finished annulus may be readilydetermined and may be marked as, for instance,

illustrated by the dotted line B. Thereafter the split 'ring can beremoved from the rim and the excess material between the line B and theadjacent end severed in any preferred or desired manner. At this timethere is produced a split ring of the desired diameter for the completeannulus and of a size which will accurately fit the rim against whichthe-split ring has been matched or i measured.

As will be obvious, the finish strip or trim rail is of a substantialchannel shape in cross section and as a consequence comprisesreturn-bent edges 11, the channel, when the finish strip is applied,facing inwardly against the opposed surface of the wheel rim.

In accordance with my invention I propose, after the split ring has beensevered to the proper diameter, to connect the ends by means of acoupling member or element 13, which in the simplest form of theinvention, is attachable with the opposed ends A and B of the finishstrip by being inserted in the channels thereof. Thus, as shown inFigure 7 the coupling element 13 has been inserted in the end A of thesplit ring member 11 and the end B of the split ring member, is about tobe engagedwviththe projecting end of the coupling element so as toconnect the ends of the split ring and form the complete annulus.

Obviously, the coupling member in this form of the invention, willengage the opposite ends of the split ring member tightly so as to besecured theretoby friction and the abutting ends of the split ringmember match one another sufliciently and abut so closely that the jointformed by the abutting ends is but slightly noticeable, particularlywhen the finish strip is applied to its supporting surface.

Obviously, it falls within the scope of this invention to provide othertypes of means for. coupling or uniting the ends of the split ringmember, the form herein specifically illustrated, however, being a verysim le one which may be economically manu actured and assembled.Obviously, the coupling element may be permanently fixed to one end ofthe split ring member, the other end being severed to obtain the properdiameter and the two ends then united.

It is also obvious as will be observed from Figure 8 that finish stripsor trim rails having other cross sectional contours are capable of usein connection with this invention. In this form, the finish strip 14instead of being outwardly bowed as in the other figures of thedrawings, is bowed inwardly. Furthermore, it will be apparent that thefinish strips need not necessarily be channeled in cross section, othermeans thereupon being provided for connecting the coupling element tothe ends of the split ring member.

In view, therefore, of the obvious modifications which may be resortedto in connection with this invention, reservation is made to make suchchanges as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A ring-like finish strip comprising, a split ring member, and acoupling member enga ing the opposed ends of said split ring mem er toconnect the same.

2. An annular finish strip or trim rail comprising, a split ring member,and a separate coupling member engageable with the opposed ends of saidsplit ring member to connect the same to form a complete annulus.

3. A ring-like finish strip or trim rail adapted for attachment to avehicle wheel rim comprising, a split ring member, and a cou-' tions ofthe opposed ends of said ring member to connect the same to form acomplete annulus. M

6. An ornamental finish ring for a vehicle rim comprising, a split ringmember of substantial channel cross section at the ends thereof, and acoupling member engaging the said channel portions of the opposed endsof said ring member to connect the same, the saidcquplmg member beingconcealed from view when the said ends are connected and the finish ringapplied to the vehicle rim, the said finish ring being capable ofattachment to the vehicle rim as a complete annulus.

7. The method of attaching an annular of fixed imensions which consistin shap- HOMER G. KELLOGG.

